The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region (ADL), responding to reports of a cross burned on the lawn of a Jewish New Mexico family, condemns the incident and applauds law enforcement for investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.  

The alleged incident took place last week in Mountainair, New Mexico.  According to a KQRE news report, a member of the family discovered the cross burned into the lawn early on the morning of August 19 when he opened the front door to let out the family dog. 

Scott Levin, ADL Mountain States Regional Director, issued the following statement: 

We are disturbed to learn of this alleged hate crime based on the family’s Jewish identity. We applaud law enforcement officials for taking quick and decisive action to investigate whether this was a bias-motivated incident.   

Hate crimes have an impact far beyond the individual victim of the crime. When a victim is chosen because of his or her religious, racial, sexual or other identity, other members of that group may feel unsafe and unwelcome. Cross burnings have long been used to intimidate and terrorize victims, and we condemn this incident in the strongest terms.    

 Report antisemitic and other hate incidents to ADL at www.adl.org/reportincident.